System and method for remote monitoring of equipment moisture exposure

Abstract

The presented principles are directed to an apparatus for monitoring humidity exposure of system components, with the apparatus having sensor modules for collecting environmental data and a monitoring module with a humidity indicator and an electrical monitoring component sealed from the environment that reads a physical change in the humidity indicator to determine the humidity of the environment. An installation computer may transmit the humidity data and sensor readings, wirelessly or otherwise, to a central monitoring station for processing and storage. The humidity indicator may be disposed within an enclosure to determine the humidity within that enclosure. The humidity indicator may also be a desiccant that changes color cased on the humidity, and the electrical monitoring component may be a camera configured to take video data of the desiccant.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present principles generally relate to remotely monitoring the condition of electronic equipment. More specifically, the present principles refer to a system and method for remotely monitoring the moisture exposure electrical equipment experiences by tracking the moisture content of a desiccant at the electronic equipment. The system comprises a system for taking readings of the moisture content of the desiccant and transmitting the moisture reading to a central monitoring station. The system may permit a user to review data on the moisture content of a desiccant at a particular location to determine the overall moisture that electronics at a particular location have been exposed to for a particular reading, or over a period of time.BACKGROUND[0002]Moisture is a well known problem for electrical systems. The first issue with moisture and electrical systems is that water may short out an electrical circuit. However, another problem caused by moisture i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device that can measure humidity using a special indicator that changes color based on humidity. The device also includes a camera that can capture video data of the indicator. The camera can be adjusted to compensate for changes in atmospheric conditions and can use lens filters to improve the image quality of the indicator. The technical effect of this device is to provide a convenient and reliable tool for measuring humidity in a variety of settings.

Problems solved by technology

Moisture is a well known problem for electrical systems.

The first issue with moisture and electrical systems is that water may short out an electrical circuit.

However, another problem caused by moisture is corrosion.

Electrical systems in outdoor or non sheltered installations are particularly exposed to conditions that tend to cause physical defects in the system.

For example, extreme temperature fluctuations, extremes in humidity, water intrusion, fouling by debris and being disturbed by animals are just a few of the problems that can affect an electrical system deployed outdoors.

When an electrical system is deployed in a remote location, access is generally limited by the remoteness of that location, and so an electrical system tends to lack regular examination and maintenance.

When combining a lack of maintenance with an outdoor installation, electrical systems can suffer a high failure rate.

However, as a practical matter, an electrical system cannot be completely sealed because the system needs maintenance, updating, repair and the like.

Permitting moisture in the form of humidity or liquids to contact the metal conductors of the electrical system can cause the metal circuits to corrode and eventually fail.

And galvanic corrosion is a well known issue that arises when dissimilar metals are able to exchange ions via direct contact or a liquid pathway.

This can particularly be a problem where connectors, cables, wires, traces, solder joints and the like are made from different metals and are exposed to moisture.

Systems for sheltering the electrical system from the elements can offer some respite from the water and prolong the useful life of an electrical system, but even with such enclosures, the electrical system will still fail at some point.

Another issue with such electrical system installations is condensation.

The shed or component enclosure may protect the electrical system from snow, hail leaves and the like, but it cannot practically be sealed against changes in temperature or humidity.

It is the changes in temperature and humidity that lead to problems with condensation and the introduction of moisture within the electrical system's component housings.

Attempts to monitor the conditions have been made by electronic humidity sensors but with little long term success.

The issue with electronic humidity sensors is that the humidity sensing element must remain exposed to the elements and is prone to corrosion itself.

This sensing element corrosion also tends to occur faster than most other electrical system components because the sensor has no protection from the elements, while other electrical system components have some sheathing or enclosure based protection.

This difference in weather protection tends to cause the humidity sensor to corrode and fail faster than other, more protected electrical components.

The disadvantage to a chemical indicator such as a desiccant is that a user must observe the desiccant's color at a particular time to determine the instantaneous humidity level.

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